The air in Simo's shop hung heavy with the scent of dragon's blood. His brow furrowed in concentration as he stirred the bubbling cauldron. His mind was entirely focused on the precise balance of ingredients, completely oblivious to the subtle shift in the air pressure that accompanied the sudden arrival of Grigory.
Crash! "Hmm? Who on earth would go out to buy potions in the middle of the night?" he muttered, his voice barely audible above the bubbling liquid.
Simo walked to the door and opened it.
A man stood there, his form silhouetted against the dark night, his clothes torn and stained with blood.
"Hello sir! Are you looking to buy potions?" Simo asked, his voice professional, though a flicker of concern crossed his face at the man's disheveled state.
"Yes," the man replied, his voice hoarse.
"You came to the right place!" Simo said, offering a reassuring smile.
The man, took a seat on a rickety stool while Simo searched the shelves. "What's your name, sir?" Simo asked.
"Grigory. Call me Grigory. I need potions that can heal my injuries."
"I see... Healing potion it is!" Simo said, turning his back to Grigory to retrieve the potion.
As he reached for a vial, Grigory felt a sudden, overwhelming chill. The air around Simo seemed to crackle with an unnatural energy. Grigory's muscles tensed; he felt an unbearable pressure on his chest, making it impossible to even breathe. He could not move. Terror gripped him; it felt as if a terrifying being was before him, radiating untold power.
Simo approached, placing the potion before Grigory. "Here it is," he said, oblivious to the man's paralysis and distress. "I hope this helps."
Grigory, still paralyzed with fear, stammered, "T-Thank you." The power emanating from Simo was suffocating.
Was this alchemist a Nebula grade? or even higher?!
Simo sat down, waiting for Grigory to drink the potion. Grigory, his mind reeling, drank it quickly. A searing pain shot through his veins, followed by an intense surge of energy.
"ARGH!" he cried out.
Simo frowned slightly. "Are you alright, sir Grigory?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
"I-I'm fine," Grigory said, his voice strained but filled with a newfound strength. He stumbled out of the shop, seemingly in a hurry.
Simo watched him go. He felt a familiar wave of unease. "Did I make a bad potion?" he wondered, "Did I use too much of that strange herb I found in the cave? I hope It didn't cause any bad side effects!"
Grigory returned to his hideout, his mind racing. What the hell was that? he thought. How can a mere store owner be that powerful? The memory of Simo's overwhelming aura and the sudden power surge from the potion still made his heart race. It was as if that potion was not just a simple healing draught but also a power enhancer. The surge of power had boosted his grade from Crescent to Nebula! He needed to revisit that shop, to discover the alchemist's secrets.